Hot Topics in the Aluminum Market This Month:
- Price Forecast: Both raw material prices and downstream demand weaken, putting aluminum prices under downward pressure in January (P5)
- Bauxite: December's imported bauxite supply showed mixed changes, with total imports likely to rebound MoM (P6)
- Alumina: Operating capacity of alumina slightly declined MoM in December due to environmental protection inspections in some regions (P10)
- Aluminum: Multiple aluminum smelters implemented production cuts during the month, and the proportion of liquid aluminum is expected to continue to pull back as demand weakens (P15)
- Inventory: December's aluminum price correction stimulated outflows from warehouses beyond expectations, and with transportation in Xinjiang recovering, the inventory buildup turning point has already emerged in early January (P19)
- Aluminum Auxiliary Materials: Prices of prebaked anodes continued to rise during the period, while the petroleum coke and coal tar pitch markets showed divergent trends (P22)
- Aluminum Scrap: The tight supply pattern of aluminum scrap remains unchanged, and the price difference between primary metal and scrap narrowed significantly in December (P25)
- Aluminum Plate/Sheet and Strip: The industry experienced relatively small fluctuations during the month, but future demand is expected to decline (P27)
- Aluminum Extrusion: The off-season atmosphere for aluminum extrusion became evident in December, with overall operating rates weakening as the Chinese New Year holiday approached (P31)
- Aluminum Wire and Cable: Operating rates of aluminum wire and cable fell as expected in December, with year-end construction halts delaying deliveries (P34)
- Aluminum Rod: Processing fees for aluminum rods came under downward pressure in December, and the supply-demand imbalance became increasingly apparent (P35)
- Secondary Aluminum Alloy: Despite robust orders, raw material shortages caused the operating rate of secondary aluminum producers to stagnate in December, and ADC12 prices are more likely to rise than fall due to cost support (P37)
For more details, please refer to the China Aluminum Monthly Report 20250106
